Apparatus for making emulsions



Oct. 19 1926.

L. KIRSCHBRAUN APPARATUS FOR MAKING EMULSIONS v Filed April 9, 1924 l I l l Il Patented Oct. 19, 19246.

UNITED-srAi-Es PATENT OFFICE. y

LESTER-KIRSCHJBRAUN, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING EMULSIONS Application mea AApril e, 1924. 'serial No. 705,372.

This invention relates to improvements` in apparatus for making emulsions, and refers more particularly to the mixing of a liquid-repellent material such as bitumen, with an aqueous suspension containing an emulsifying agent.

. elements, such in vthe -preferred. form of operation.

- emulsifying the lines 3-3 of Fig.

The specific form of apparatus which it is desired tocover in this application, may comprise an "open-topped ing chamber disposed in a horizonta-l plane, preferably provided with an open ended smaller emulsifying chamber and agitating as fins or paddles mounted on revolving shafts. Separate inlets for the bitumen and suspension may be provided The many advantages attributable to my 4'invention will best be understood by describing'the process .and apparatus shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1` is a sectional plan view of the chamber. Flg. 2 is a side elevational view of same, with certain parts indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 3 ,is a cross sectionalview taken on 2. and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively, cross sectional and ltop plan views of a modified form of construction.

Referring in detail 4to the drawings, 1 designates as a whole. the shell or enlarged circulating and mixing chamber, in which are contained the trough-like sections 2 and cylindrical emulsifying chamber 3,

open-ended preferably and disposed at a lower level than the sections 2. -This entire construction isV preferablydisposed in a horizontal plane, the, advantages and purpose of which will be hereinafter explained. Ther inner emusi erably cylindrical in form. in order that the ingredients passing through the conlined area therein will have a circuitous travel, resulting in a complete and thorough dispersion into emulsion. The open vends ofthe chamber 3 preferably terminate some distance short of the troughsyso that there is freefpassage at each end for the-circulation of `material from the troughs to the and then 'around in he troughs 2 and emulsifyi'ng chamber 3 are lpreferably jacketed as shown at 4,

so that either steam or cold water canbe introduced ,as heating or coolingmediums,

enlarged circulat yand described. may, ifdesired,

fying chamber 3 1s prefand the temperatureof the mix constantly regulated. The troughs are fittedv with conveying agitator blades 5 mounted on the shafts 6 to mix and ldirect the circulation of the emulsion.- The shafts 6 may be rotated by any suitable power and operated in timed relation by the large gears which in turn may mesh with pinionl gear 8 mounted on shaft 9, on which latter are mounted the blades or fins 10 rotating in the chamber 3. The variousl blades and fins shown /be arranged spirally around the shafts and there may be any number, the arrangement being such that the circulation direction shown by the arrows. 10 are preferably rotated at rate of speed thanV the blades 5.

The'emulsifiermay be provided with an emulsion draw ofl' 11 controlled by valve 12,

The blades inlet pipe 13, meter 14 and valve -'15 for the bitumen, such as asphalt, which is prefi's preferably in the a much higher erably fed thereto in heated liquid condiaqueous suspension containing the emulsifying agentmay be lintroduced into the trough-like sections 2.. It will be noted that the emulsifying agent in suspension and bitumen, are preferably introduced separately.from oppositel sides of the mixing tank. The suspension introduced through inlet 16 has been heretofore thoroughly mixed in a suitable mixer, the latter, however, formjng the subject of a separate application. The extensions 17 are so arranged -as to distribute the suspension over considerable of the length of both mixing troughs 2.

In a batch operation, the required' charge of emulsifying agent, such as clay, beu-` tonite, and other. argillaceous substances, preferably in colloidal form, may be introduced to trough-like sections 2, water added through the' extensions 17 and the mixture agitated untila 'heavy paste is obtained. The temperature is adjusted to about the melting point of the bit-amen usedv con? 4trolled by steam introduced into the Jacket. The bitumen, preferably inheated liquid condition may then be added through pipe 13 and flows with the clay through the restricted area .in the chamber 3, where it is dispersed into a very fine emulsion. As it passes out of chamber 3 on its return, Water may be added to slightly thin the mixture, which emerges from emulsilier 3 in a very stiff condition. The Water is thoroughly and uniformly incorporated in this return circulation. and is in proper condition to meet the stream ot asphalt entering as beore. The temperature f the emulsion is maintained close to the melting lpoint ot the bitumen used. After the desired proportion of asphalt has been incorporatedV and emulsiied, the batch is discharged.

regulated to correspond with the rate' et withdrawal of finished emulsion'.

The invention is particularlydirected to handle very stiff and viscous emulsions at less kexpenditure of power than in the present mixers. The circulation is horizontal, avoidingI the lifting action previously required, and enabling the mixture to be kept much stiier and still circulated. The invention also permits the introduction of clay at a point remote from contact with `incoming asphalt and thereby permits of mixing of clay and tempering vof the emulsion retained in the mixer prior to reaching the zone of emulsitication and point of contact with the bitumen. It` also permits the emulsitication of alarger proportion of bitumen to clafy. -Re erring to Figs. 4 and 5, I have shown va modified form ofconstruction in which the mixing blades 5 overlap each other, and the emulsifying chamber 3 is located on a lane below the bottom of thetroughs. he purpose of the overlapping blades is to\ o btain a thoroughmixing particularly deslrable for use in a heavy viscous mass.

I claim as my invention:

1. In .a mixing apparatus, the'combina-- tion with an enlarged chamber, of an openended conduit disposed in a horizontal plane therein, agitating' elements in thef chamber and in the open-ended conduit `'and inlets for introducingr the materials to be mixed.

2. In an apparatus for producing emulsions, the combination with a horizontally disposed enlarged chamber, of an openended conduit disposed horizontally therein, agitating elements in both the chamber and the conduit, the elements in the conduit being disposed in a lower plane than the elements in the 'enlarged chamber. inlets for introducing emulsifying agent, water and liquid repellant material.

3. In an apparatus for producing `emulsions. the combination with a horizontally disposed enlarged chamber, ofen openended conduit disposed horizontally therein, agitating elements in both the chamber and the conduit, the elements iii the conduitA being disposed in a lower plane than the elements in the enlarged chamber, inlets for introducing emulsifying agent, water and liquid repellant material, the inlet for the liquid repellant material being'located at a point remote from the other inlets.

4. In an apparatus for producing emulsions, the combinatiolywith a horizontally disposed enlarged chamber, of an openended smaller` conduitdisposed horizontally' therein, agitating elements in the chamber and in the conduit, inlets for introducing emulsifying. agent, water and liquid repellant material, and means for controlling the temperature maintained on the material being emulsified.

5. Inan apparatus for producing emulsions, the combination with an enlarged horizontally disposed chamber having lon-- gitudinal trough-like sections, of a smaller' open-ended conduit between the trough-like sections, agitating elementsmounted in the trough-like sections andA niii-'the conduit, means for introducing the, ingredients at points remote from each other.

. 6. In an apparatus forprodueing emulsions, the combination with anY enlarged horizontally disposed chamber having longitudinal trough-like sections, ofv a smaller open-ended conduit disposed horizontally between the trough-like sections, 'agitating elements mounted in the trou h-like sections and in -the conduit, means or introducing the'ingredients at points remoterfromeach other, the apparatus being adapted to impart a horizontal circulation to the mate rials being emulsified..

LESTER KIRSCHBRAUN 

